Is Spasmodic dysphonia w/ tremor typically improved with Sinemet?

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After a long journey of misdiagnosis. I was recently dx with early young on PD. A very good ENTdx me with Spasmodic Dysphonia with vocal and jaw tremor. I'm still not convinced about the SD because I can't find any reference anywhere about PD and SD running together.

can you please help me clear this up.

I've been asked to attend a conference this weekend on SD and am encouraged to ask questions. I don't want to be embarrassed by asking the wrong questions.

Btw, the Sinemet has made my voice sound great.

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As a voice clinician, I am familar with both Spasmodic Dysphonia as well as Young-onset PD. Given the brief explanation of your symptoms, I wonder if you have two co-existing neurologic disorders? I am not familar with sinemet helping Spasmodic Dysphonia. So maybe it is helping you with your voice symptoms associated with PD. The traditional method for treatment od Spasmodic Dysphonia is botox injections. But given you diagnosis of PD, botox might worsen your symptoms. It might be that you don't have spasmodic dysphonia - but that your voical and jaw tremor is a variant of your young-onset, atypical PD - not Spasmodic Dysphonia.

Don't be embarrassed to ask questions at the conference this weekend. There are NO WRONG questions. Ask for information.

Dr. Bassich, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

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Thank you. I went for a 2nd opinion for that very reason ( the possibility of botox making my voice worse). At the time of my 1st dx my YOPD had not been Dx by my then neuro, so the ENT didn't have that information to go on. He was going to start botox next month. But, then again he has not heard my voice since I found another neuro and started Sinemet

Thank you a million thank yous for helping me!

Sincerely,

Teresa

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Keep me posted of what you learn! Sometimes the best ENTs and Neurologists do not communicate. So you are doing the right thing to advocate for yourself. If sinemet is working, go with. I agree with your decision to not have Botox at this point in time.

Best,

Dr. Bassich

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After a long journey of misdiagnosis. I was recently dx with early young on PD. A very good ENTdx me with Spasmodic Dysphonia with vocal and jaw tremor. I'm still not convinced about the SD because I can't find any reference anywhere about PD and SD running together.

can you please help me clear this up.

I've been asked to attend a conference this weekend on SD and am encouraged to ask questions. I don't want to be embarrassed by asking the wrong questions.

Btw, the Sinemet has made my voice sound great.

Can you tell me how long it took for you to notice an improvement in your voice with Sinemet? My wife was dx with PD in April 2014. Her voice and swallowing issues are her major QOL issues. She has been on Azilect approximately 5 months with no improvement . Her neurologist is reluctant to prescribe Sinemet early on. Thank you in advance.